What is a Standard Plot of Land?

This question comes up frequently when issues of dispute on land sizes or standard measurement of land is concern. What is the standard measurement of a plot of land?

Both the buyers and sellers of landed properties have various square meters, measurements and dimension for their own definition of “standard”.

First and foremost, the word “standard” makes issues of land unnecessarily complicated, it saves much stress if we remove the usage of the word “standard” because there is no legal specification, back up or general agreed principle of any level of the government to support neither the usage nor its interpretation. The agreed measurement differs among various communities for example in Lagos State it may be 60 by 120 or even 50 by 100 whereas in Abuja it is 100 by 100 etc. So many states, communities have some conventional measurements which give the need for this write up and I have also done some video tutorial explaining the same concept, watch it here.

As a Land and property expert, when most clients ask what the “Standard” measurement is, we address the issue by simply asking the clients to state his/her needed specification in direct measurement then request for the sellers’ offer in direct measurement too.

By this I mean we ask seller’s measurement and verify the claims by re-measuring. Then we ask the buyer’s specification of property he/she wants if they both reach a consensus, we advice such purchase after all necessary findings and documentations are done.

However, when a client needs a land of 60 by 120 whereas the seller offers 50 by 100, we state the situation clearly. Remove the word standard, and request for the measurement as we have it on the land, which will be confirmed by on sight re-measuring instead of using the word, STANDARD …

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OLOYEDE GANIU ADISA(OGA), mnis, is a graduate of Surveying & Geoinformatics from University of Lagos. A Licensed Surveyor with Nigerian Institution of Surveyors.He has worked several years with Lagos State Government and retired, voluntarily (in 2014), to pursue his Passion. OGA , is the Founder of Detail Surveyors & Development Company Ltd. based in Ayobo, Lagos.